Clip for vehicle springs



March 30 1926.

C. A. LINCOLN v CLIP FOR VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed Nov. 27, 1923 PatentedMar. 30,1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARLISLE A. LINCOLN,'OF,,BUFF. ALQ, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOUDAILLECOMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CLIP FOR VEHICLE SPRINGS.

Application filed'November 27, 1923. Serial No. 677,213.

5 NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clipsfor Vehicle Springs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers 10 skilled in the art to which a. appertains a make and use thesame.

The present invention relates to an improvement in vehicle springs andmore par ticularly to an improvement of this character designed tofacilitate the application of spring covers or boots thereto.

The object of the present invention is to improve vehicle springs with aview to facilitating -the application of projecting covers or bootsthereto, the present form of spring permitting the employment of sectional casings between the spring clips without the necessity of causingthe cover to extend over or about the clips.

lVith this object in view, the principal feature of the inventioncontemplates a simple and improved type of spring clip which is adaptedfor attachment to the ad jacent ends ofcover sections and which forms aseal or closure between the sections.

The new form of vehicle spring with the improved spring clip may beemployed with a the sectional spring cover shown and described in thecopending application of applicants filed of even date herewith.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of theinvention Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of a portion of a vehiclespring embodying the improved type of clip and with a cover attachedthereto; Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating a side elevation partly insection of the spring shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view ofthe spring shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the cover applied; Fig. 4 is adetail of the strap for securing the ends of the cover sections to thespring clip; and Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating one of the spacermembers for insertion between the clip and thetop face of a. spring. I

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the spring is shown asprovided with a plurality of superimposed spring leaves which are joinedat points intermediate the center and ends of the spring by a clipindicated generally at 22. As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 to 3of-the drawings,'the spring clip comprises a U- shaped yoke member 24provided with relatively thin extensions 26 which extend in closeproximity to the spring in opposite directions and about the sides andbottom of the spring, as indicated in the drawings. These extensions orflanges may be provided upon opposite edges with sealing ribs 28 forinsuring a more effectual locking of the flexible sections to the clip.The clip is held in place by the usual cross bolt 30 which is surroundedby a tubular sleeve member 32 provided with oppositely extending flanges34: which lie on the top of the spring between the opposite legs of theU- shaped yoke. These flanges are likewise provided with sealing ribs 36and are maintained in spaced relation to the top of the spring throughthe provision of spacer members 38 of angle section, as indicated inFig. 5, which are interposed between the flanges and the top face of thespring. It will be evident that with this construction the spring clipwhen assembled provides a flanged closure completely surrounding thespring throughout the area adjacent to the clip and adapted forattachment to spring cover sections. As indicated in Fi 2, the flangedextension at one side of the yoke may be depressed to accommodate theend of an additional spring lea-f, the spring clip being generallylocated at such a point that the end of a short leaf extends intoproximity thereto. 1

The adjacent ends of the flexible cover sections may be convenientlysecured to the extensions or flanges of the spring clip through flexiblelocking bands 39 riveted or otherwise secured to the ends of the coversections and each provided with a locking tongue 40 adapted to engagewith a slitted portion 42 to lock the end portion of the cover sectionsecurely about each flange, as indicated clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 of thedrawings. \Vhen the cover section is secured in place by the lockingband, the provision of the sealing rib serves to prevent the cover frombecoming disengaged from the flange through an endwise movement, due tothe flexure of: the spring.

The provision of vehicle springs provided with spring clips as abovedescribed permits the application of cover sections to enclose portionsof the spring between the clips in a simple and convenient manner and.without disassembling any portion of the spring;

\Vhile it is preferred to employ the specific construction andarrangement of parts shown and described, it will be understood thatthis construction and arrangement is not essential eXceptsoiar asspecified in the. claims and maybe changed-or modified without departingfrom the broader features of the invention; 1 a I is claimed is s [Theinvent hayingbeendescribed, what 1; AQclip for vehicle springscomprising,

I :a yokemember'surrounding the bottom and sides oi the spring-,aboltconnecting the top ends of the yoke across the topof the spring, "1stride-"tubular sleeve surrounding the bolt and having oppositelyextending flanges of suflicient width to permit attachment of a flexiblespring casing thereto.

2. A clip for vehicle springs comprising, a yoke and tie bolt forholding the leaves of the spring in assembled relation, flangesextending in opposite directions from the yoke and surrounding thebottom and sides of the spring, and a tubular sleeve enclosing the boltand having oppositely directed flanges lying in proximity to the top ofthe spring, theflanges surrounding the spring enclosing'thetie bolthavingoppositely directed flanges, "'an'd'means for maintaining thesleeve in spaced relation to the top of the spring to provide a channelfor the flow of lubricant thereunder.

' CARLISLE A. LINCOLN.

